Postjunctional α2C-adrenoceptors mediate vasoconstriction in rat tail artery: influence of precontraction and temperature on vasoreactivity.

The isolated rat tail artery (RTA) represents an in vitro model of the cutaneous circulation. We have characterised the postjunctional α(2)-adrenoceptor subtype mediating vasoconstriction to the α(2)-adrenoceptor (α(2)-AR) agonist UK14304 in RTA. In non-precontracted arterial rings at 32°C, a physiological temperature for the RTA, UK14304 elicited only slight contractions which were markedly enhanced after precontraction with serotonin (5-HT; 10-50 nM).